We’re looking forward to introducing you to Boogie Rocco. Check out our conversation below.
Boogie, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Who are you learning from right now?
Right now, I am actually learning from the city of Nashville itself! As a recent transplant here, it’s an entirely new culture to draw inspiration from. I’m learning from the people, the history, other makers and creators, etc. It’s all very exciting and a totally new outlook.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Boogie Rocco. I’m a fashion designer, specializing in bespoke leather accessories under my brand Electric Warrior. In 2011, I established my brand in NYC’s East Village amongst an energetic rock & roll revival scene. I began creating custom guitar straps and other stage accessories for local musicians. That led to commissions for everyday accessories, such as handbags and belts, all maintaining a bold rockstar aesthetic.
Electric Warrior takes its name from the famous T.Rex album and is primarily inspired by guitar heroes and rock style icons of the 1970s, who embodied dramatic flair. Other notable sources of inspiration I often call to are Art Deco, Art Nouveau, comic book art, Southern Gothic, Goth, and motifs from the ancient cultural world. The idea is to always outfit a performer with custom pieces that project their individual stage persona and aid in enlivening the visual impact of their performance.
What allows my designs to stand out is my approach to leather work. Because my training background comes from a fashion perspective, rather than a leathercraft one, I handle leather as a fashion material, often implementing design techniques not always applied to leather.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
My worldview and design outlook has really been shaped by the films, music and art I was exposed to in my childhood.
I grew up listening to records and examining album jackets. The importance of the album cover and how an artist is styled, or the overall impact of the artwork really plays into how I think about design. It all has a specific purpose and message it wants to convey. That translates directly into fashion and personal style in general.
Many of the films that shaped me early on were either 1970s rock musicals, cartoons, or other films that were highly stylized in terms of sets and costumes (many of Tim Burton’s films). The dramatic effect of these elements, as well as the fact that each character was extremely distinct, possessing their own recognizable styling, has really contributed to me thinking of performers in terms of being a type of character. When I’m designing for a client, I always think about the main attributes of their stage personality and how to communicate that clearly in a visual sense.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
A fear that has probably held me back the most is the fear of taking risks.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
As someone who has worked in the apparel industry, one of the biggest lies that I’ve recognized is that there is sustainability. The phrase “Sustainable Fashion” is an oxymoron. The most sustainable thing that could probably be done is to just stop making clothing items altogether. There are enough garments in the world to outfit generations, especially if we take care of our clothes and pass them down.
Even the craze of upcycling, leading people to believe that what they are doing is sustainable is a farce. To take an old piece of clothing, cut it up, create a new design, sew it up, etc. is now just using up additional energy and resources, while creating more waste than if you were just to wear that old garment as is. Even companies that recycle old clothing and materials are utilizing energy and resources to do so. There is just no such thing as truly sustainable fashion.
I have no illusions about working with leather. It is not a sustainable material. However, I often look to vintage and antique items that were handmade and built to last. If I can create new items that are very well made with the intention of lasting many lifetimes, that’s probably one of the more sustainable things that can be done. I am also a big believer in taking care of what you own, restoring old items, treasuring the pieces you have and not neglecting them. Then, they can be passed down and enjoyed by many future generations. Leather especially can last for an extremely long time when well cared for. I recently watched a restoration video of a 100 year old leather bag. Although it had been neglected for many years, leather can be revived to its near original state.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
If I said that I could give my best to everything without any positive feedback from the outside world, I would probably be lying to myself. I think that’s true for nearly everyone. Outside reinforcement and criticism is what actually helps us to grow, to become better and to continue giving our best.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.electricwarriornyc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/electricwarriornyc/
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